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Cyno began the walk from his place to Tighnari’s house. They had been dating for about 8 months now, and the journey was familiar to him now. The birds singing in the trees as his shoes hit against the sidewalk was a sound he was well accustomed to.
Cyno often became lost in thought during his trip to Tighnari’s place. This time his thoughts began to wander to Tighnari himself - and more specifically, his behavior recently. Cyno had tried multiple times to initiate things with Tighnari after long make-out sessions, but it never went as expected. Tighnari would shove his ears down and jump away from Cyno any time they got close to the point of Tighnari’s clothes being removed. The odd thing was, he didn’t care what Cyno had on - Tighnari just insisted he always had layers of clothes on around Cyno. This came up with changing clothes too. Cyno was allowed to be basically naked around Tighnari, but any time Cyno suggested that they change together, or shower together after a long day, Tighnari would shake his head aggressively and seem lost in thought for the rest of the night.
On the same note, Tighnari always dressed in layers. Always modest, long sleeves and long pants. Cyno knew Tighnari lived in the outskirts of a forest. He also knew Tighnari was very, very allergic to bugs of all sorts. So he always assumed the modest dress was simply a protection against the bugs, as well as Tighnari’s style. But now he was second guessing that, with Tighnari’s seeming self consciousness about removing his clothes. And Cyno wanted to know why. Of course he could ask Tighnari, but Tighnari didn’t tend to be very… up front about things like that. So, Cyno devised a plan.
The next time Cyno visited Tighnari, he brought a surprise. Two surprises, really.
“Naaaari,” Cyno called at the door, knocking lightly.
A sleepy, dishelved Tighnari came to the door a few moments later.
“Hmmm…. Cyno, I was napping.”
“Did my Nari not sleep enough again?” Cyno asked with a pout.
Tighnari sighed. “Cyno, you know I’m busy with work recently. At least I’m trying to take naps…?” Tighnari said it like it was a question.
Cyno kissed him on the nose. “It’s okay, Tighnari. I just want you to take care of yourself. But let’s go inside, I brought surprises!
Tighnari opened the door wider and Cyno walked inside. They stopped in the kitchen breifly to get Cyno some water, and then headed back to Tighnari’s room.
Cyno opened the backpack he had brought. “Surprise one: reservation tickets to that restaurant we’ve both been eyeing!”
The tickets read “Puspa Resturant.”
Tighnari shifted uncomfortably. “Cyno… thank you… don’t they, uh, have a dress code though?”
Cyno nodded. “That’s the second surprise. I brought you this.”
Cyno pulled out a silky, short sleeve green button down shirt and a well folded and ironed pair of brown dress pants, as well as a pair of men’s dress shoes.
Tighnari’s ears drooped.
“Nari, what’s wrong?”
“Can’t I just wear a sweater and a flannel? Please Cyno, you know I don’t like short sleeves or wearing things without layers.”
Oh. There it was. He admitted it.
“No Tighnari, if you want to go to Puspa we have to adhere to the dress code. But, why don’t you like wearing this? I think it would look lovely on you.”
Tighnari hid his face in his hands, his words seeming a bit broken as if he were trying not to cry.
“I don’t want to explain. Maybe we just don’t go.”
“Nari, please tell me. I want to help and I want to go to this restaurant, I know you’ve looked up their menu a total of three times. I even won’t tell jokes at the dinner table.”
Tighnari groaned. “Cyno, it’s not that… can you just leave, please.”
“No.”
Tighnari sighed, obviously at the brink of tears. “Fine. I’ll explain. But you have to promise not to joke or make fun of me.”
Cyno nodded. “I promise.”
Tighnari removed his flannel, and then his sweater, exposing his chest.
Cyno tilted his head, not understanding.
To Tighnari, the issue was obvious. Stretch marks and scars from acne, and probably past injuries covered his arms, shoulders, and chest, as well as two large scars across his chest.
“My chest. And the… blemishes.”
Cyno made an “O” shape with his mouth. Then he smiled.
“Nari, I love you.”
“Huh…?”
“I said, I love you. May I touch you?”
Slowly, Tighnari nodded.
First, Cyno traced the top surgery scars. Then, he took off his own shirt and pointed to his own scars.
“They’re faded, but, I have them too, Nari. There’s no need to be embarrassed of your top surgery. Nobody here will hate you. And if they do, they will be judged by me!”
“Cyno, I knew you were trans, but… it’s different, if it’s me. My ex left me the first time she saw these.”
Cyno shook his head. “Nari, I’m not leaving. As for your skin, I think it’s beautiful.”
Tighnari looked shocked.
Cyno kissed Tighnari. First on the lips. Then he kissed his chest. And then his arms, and his shoulders. Anywhere Tighnari’s skin had markings, Cyno peppered with kisses.
“Beautiful,” he repeated, when he was done.
Tighnari went through several emotions. Relief. Sadness. Anger. Joy. And finally, he smiled.
“Cyno, your skin is so perfect, how can mine be beautiful?”
“Because, you’re you. I love all of you, and you will always be beautiful.”
The day of the date went perfectly, and Cyno kept his word not to tell jokes at the dinner table. Just for one night.